Forceps knife blade lockout mechanism

ABSTRACT

A forceps includes jaws, a first shaft having a first slot, a second shaft extending along the first shaft and having a second slot, and a rod that extends along the second shaft. The rod has a third slot including a locking portion and a guide track portion. A pin extends through the first slot, the second slot, and the third slot to prevent deployment of the rod when the pin is in the locking portion and to permit deployment of the rod when the pin is in the guide track portion. A first actuator produces relative movement of the first and second shafts to move the jaws relative to each other and move the pin from the locking portion to the guide track portion of the third slot. A second actuator produces movement of the rod to deploy the rod when the pin is in the guide track portion.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to forceps, and in particular to a knifeblade lockout mechanism that prevents deployment of a knife blade to anextended position until a gripping assembly of the forceps is in aclosed configuration.

Forceps, such as electrosurgical forceps, are often used for medicalprocedures, such as laparoscopic surgeries. The forceps can be used tomanipulate, engage, grasp, or otherwise affect an anatomical feature,such as a vessel or other tissue. Jaw members of a gripping assemblylocated at a distal end of the forceps are typically actuated via alever or other control elements at a hand piece of the forceps to causethe jaw members to move between an open position and a closed positionto engage tissue or other anatomical feature therebetween.

Cutting forceps typically include a knife blade assembly that isactuated via control elements at the hand piece, such as a knife bladetrigger, to extend and retract a knife blade at the distal end of theforceps to cut or dissect tissue or other anatomical feature(s) engagedbetween the jaw members. Often, electrosurgical cutting forceps utilizeboth mechanical clamping action and electrical energy to coagulate,cauterize, seal, desiccate, or otherwise effect hemostasis by heatingthe tissue or other anatomical feature(s). The knife blade is typicallydeployed to an extended position to cut or dissect the tissue subsequentto effecting hemostasis, thereby minimizing bleeding of the tissue orother anatomy.

Conventional forceps often utilize a safety knife blade lockoutmechanism in the hand piece of the forceps to prevent unintentionalextension and/or cutting by the knife blade when the jaw members areopen. For instance, certain conventional forceps utilize an interactionbetween a gripping lever that moves the jaw members and a knife bladetrigger that extends and retracts the knife blade to prevent the knifeblade from being unintentionally deployed when the jaws are open.

SUMMARY

In one example, a forceps includes jaws that open and close, a firstshaft, a second shaft, a rod, a pin, a first actuator, and a secondactuator. The first shaft has a first slot. The second shaft extendsalong the first shaft and has a second slot. The first slot and thesecond slot are angled with respect to each other. The rod extends alongthe second shaft and has a third slot including a locking portion and aguide track portion. The pin extends through the first slot, the secondslot, and the third slot to prevent deployment of the rod when the pinis located in the locking portion of the third slot and to permitdeployment of the rod when the pin is located in the guide track portionof the third slot. The first actuator produces relative movement of thefirst shaft and the second shaft to move the jaws relative to each otherand move the pin within the first slot and the second slot from thelocking portion to the guide track portion of the third slot. The secondactuator produces movement of the rod to deploy the rod when the pin islocated in the guide track portion.

In another example, a method includes producing relative movement of afirst shaft and a second shaft to move jaws of a forceps towards aclosed configuration. The method further includes moving, during therelative movement of the first shaft and the second shaft, a pin thatextends through a first slot in the inner shaft, a second slot in theouter shaft, and a third slot of a rod from a locking portion of thethird slot to a guide track portion of the third slot. The methodfurther includes producing movement of the rod relative to the firstshaft and the second shaft to deploy the rod when the pin is located inthe guide track portion of the third slot.

In another example, a forceps includes a shaft assembly, a grippingassembly, a knife blade assembly, a knife blade lockout mechanism, agripping actuator, and a knife blade actuator. The shaft assembly has afirst shaft and a second shaft. The gripping assembly is operablycoupled to a distal end of the shaft assembly and includes a first jawmember and a second jaw member. The knife blade assembly includes ablade support and a knife blade. The blade support extendslongitudinally within the shaft assembly. The knife blade is connectedto a distal end of the blade support. The knife blade lockout mechanismincludes guide slots, cam slots, a blade support slot, and a pin. Theguide slots are formed in the first shaft. The cam slots are formed inthe second shaft. The blade support slot is formed in the blade support.The blade support slot has a locking portion and a guide track portion.The pin extends through the guide slots, the cam slots, and the bladesupport slot to prevent distal translation of the blade support and theknife blade when the pin is located in the locking portion and to allowdistal translation of the blade support and the knife blade when the pinis located in the guide track portion. The gripping actuator is operablyconnected to the shaft assembly to produce relative movement of thefirst shaft and the second shaft that causes at least one of the firstjaw member and the second jaw member to transition from an openconfiguration to a closed configuration and causes the guide slots andthe cam slots to move the pin from the locking portion to the guidetrack portion of the blade support slot. The knife blade actuator isoperably connected to the knife blade assembly to produce distaltranslation of the blade support relative to the first shaft and thesecond shaft to extend the knife blade when the pin is located in theguide track portion of the blade support slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a side view of a forceps having a knife blade lockoutmechanism.

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the forceps of FIG.1A.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the knife blade lockout mechanism showingan inner shaft and outer shaft as transparent.

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the knife blade lockout mechanism showingthe inner and outer shafts as transparent.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the knife blade lockout mechanism showing theinner and outer shafts as transparent.

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of the forceps showing a hand piece,gripping assembly, and knife blade lockout mechanism when the grippingassembly is in an open configuration and the knife blade is retracted.

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of the forceps showing the hand piece,gripping assembly, and knife blade lockout mechanism when the grippingassembly is transitioning from the open configuration to the closedconfiguration and the knife blade is retracted.

FIG. 5C is a schematic diagram of the forceps showing the hand piece,gripping assembly, and knife blade lockout mechanism when the grippingassembly is in the closed configuration and the knife blade isretracted.

FIG. 5D is a schematic diagram of the forceps showing the hand piece,gripping assembly, and knife blade lockout mechanism when the grippingassembly is in the closed configuration and the knife blade is extended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to techniques of this disclosure, a forceps includes a knifeblade lockout mechanism that prevents deployment of a knife blade to anextended position when jaw members of a gripping assembly are not in aclosed configuration. Rather than utilize a direct interaction betweencontrol elements of a hand piece of the forceps, such as gripping leversthat actuate a gripping assembly and a knife trigger that actuates theknife blade, the knife blade lockout mechanism described herein preventsdeployment of the knife blade based on movement of a shaft assembly thatdirectly correlates to open and closed configurations of the jawmembers. The knife blade mechanism implementing techniques of thisdisclosure therefore prevents deployment of the knife blade when the jawmembers are not in the closed configuration.

FIG. 1A is a side view of forceps 10. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional viewof portion 1B of forceps 10. For purposes of clarity and ease ofdiscussion, the examples of FIGS. lA and 1B are described concurrentlybelow.

Forceps 10 can be a medical forceps, cutting forceps, electrosurgicalforceps (e.g., monopolar or bipolar forceps), or other types of forceps.Forceps 10, in some examples, is used for medically related procedures,such as open and/or laparoscopic medical procedures to manipulate,engage, grasp, cut, cauterize, seal, or otherwise affect a vessel,tissue, vein, artery, or other anatomical feature or object.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, forceps 10 includes hand piece 12, shaftassembly 14, knife blade assembly 16, gripping assembly 18, and knifeblade lockout mechanism 20. In some examples, such as the illustratedexample of FIG. 1A, forceps 10 is electrically connected to power source22 that supplies electrical energy that is passed through grippingassembly 18 and/or a remote pad for electrosurgical techniques, such ascauterizing, sealing, or other electrosurgical techniques.

Hand piece 12 includes handle 24, gripping lever 26, knife trigger 28,electrical therapy actuation button 30, and rotation wheel 32. Shaftassembly 14 includes inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36. Knife bladeassembly 16 includes blade support 38 and knife blade 40. Grippingassembly 18 includes first jaw member 42 and second jaw member 44. Knifeblade lockout mechanism 20, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, can be locatedwithin a housing of hand piece 12 and configured to inhibit translationof blade support 38 and knife blade 40 until one or more of first jawmember 42 and second jaw member 44 are moved to a closed configuration,as is further described below. Although illustrated in the example ofFIG. 1A as located within the housing of hand piece 12, in otherexamples, knife blade lockout mechanism 20 can be located at anylocation along shaft assembly 14.

Shaft assembly 14, including inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36, extendsdistally from hand piece 12 in longitudinal direction 46. Outer shaft 36functions to permit a portion of forceps 10 (e.g., gripping assembly 18and a portion of shaft assembly 14) to be inserted into a patient orother anatomy while a remaining portion of forceps 10 (e.g., hand piece12 and a remaining portion of shaft assembly 14) are outside of thepatient or other anatomy. Though illustrated in FIG. lA as substantiallystraight, in other examples, outer shaft 36 (as well as inner shaft 34and blade support 38) can include one or more angles, bends, and/orarcs. Outer shaft 36 can be a cylinder with a circular, elliptical, orother cross section, or other elongated member that extends along innershaft 34 and knife blade assembly 16.

Inner shaft 34, in the example of FIGS. 1A and 1B, is disposed axiallywithin outer shaft 36 and extends in longitudinal direction 46. Innershaft 34 can be a cylinder, such as a circular or elliptical cylinder,or otherwise elongated member that extends along outer shaft 36 andknife blade assembly 16. In some examples, such as the example of FIGS.1A and 1B, outer shaft 36 can be an elongated hollow member (e.g., atubular outer shaft) that encloses inner shaft 34 and knife bladeassembly 16. In certain examples, inner shaft 34 can be an elongatedhollow member (e.g., a tubular inner shaft) that extends within outershaft 36 and encloses knife blade assembly 16. In other examples, innershaft 34 can be an elongated solid member having a circular,rectangular, or other cross section that extends along outer shaft 36and knife blade assembly 16. In general, inner shaft 34 and outer shaft36 can be any elongated member having stiffness sufficient to transferforces along longitudinal direction 46 to cause relative movement ofinner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 in longitudinal direction 46.

Inner shaft 34 and/or outer shaft 36 are connected at a proximal end tohand piece 12, and at a distal end to gripping assembly 18. Relativemovement of inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 in longitudinal direction46 causes one or more of first jaw member 42 and second jaw member 44 tomove between an open configuration (illustrated in FIG. 1A) in whichfirst jaw member 42 and second jaw member 44 are spaced apart, and aclosed configuration in which the gap between first jaw member 42 andsecond jaw member 44 is reduced or eliminated. For instance, outer shaft36 can be a stationary (or ground) member relative to hand piece 12,with inner shaft 34 being movable relative to outer shaft 36 to causeone or more of first jaw member 42 and second jaw member 44 to movebetween the open configuration and the closed configuration. In otherexamples, inner shaft 34 can be a stationary (or ground) member relativeto hand piece 12, with outer shaft 36 being movable relative to innershaft 34 to cause the movement of first jaw member 42 and/or second jawmember 44 between the open configuration and the closed configuration.In yet other examples, inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 can both bemovable relative to hand piece 12 (e.g., in opposite directions) tocause first jaw member 42 and second jaw member 44 to move between theopen configuration and the closed configuration.

Movement of any one or more of inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 can bein a distal direction, a proximal direction, or combinations thereof(e.g., movement of inner shaft 34 in a distal direction and movement ofouter shaft 36 in a proximal direction) to cause movement of one or moreof first jaw member 42 and second jaw member 44 between the open andclosed configurations. One example mechanism for causing movement of agripping assembly between the open and closed configurations can befound in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2017/0196579, entitled “FORCEPS JAWMECHANISM” and filed on Jan. 10, 2017 to Batchelor et al., the contentsof which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Knife blade assembly 16, including blade support 38 and knife blade 40,is disposed axially along inner shaft 34 and extends in longitudinaldirection 46. Blade support 38 is an elongated rod (or shaft) having arectangular, circular, elliptical, or other cross section that extendsdistally from hand piece 12 in longitudinal direction 46 along innershaft 34. In the example of FIGS. 1A and 1B, blade support 38 extendswithin inner shaft 34. In other examples, such as when inner shaft 34 isa solid elongated member, blade support 38 can extend along inner shaft34 (e.g., next to inner shaft 34).

Knife blade 40 is located at a distal end of blade support 38. Bladesupport 38 is translatable in longitudinal direction 46 along (e.g.,within) inner shaft 34 relative to both inner shaft 34 and outer shaft36 to cause movement of blade support 38 and knife blade 40 between aretracted position (illustrated in FIG. 1A) and a deployed (or extended)position. Knife blade 40, in the deployed position, extends outside bothinner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 and within gripping assembly 18 tocut, excise, or otherwise affect tissue or other object(s) between firstjaw member 42 and second jaw member 44.

Hand piece 12, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, includes gripping lever 26,knife trigger 28, therapy actuation button 30, and rotation wheel 32.Movement (e.g., rotation) of rotation wheel 32 causes rotation of one ormore of shaft assembly 14, knife blade assembly 16, and grippingassembly 18 about an axis extending in longitudinal direction 46.Actuation of therapy actuation button 30 causes a therapeutic currentdrawn from, e.g., power source 22, to be applied to one or more of firstjaw member 42, second jaw member 44, a remote pad (not illustrated), orother portions of forceps 10 to cauterize, seal, or otherwiseelectrically affect a patient or other anatomy.

Gripping lever 26 is a gripping actuator that is movable between an openconfiguration position (illustrated in FIG. 1A) and a closedconfiguration position in which gripping lever 26 is moved proximallytoward handle 24. Movement of gripping lever 26 proximally toward handle24 to the closed configuration position causes relative movement ofinner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 to transition gripping assembly 18from the open configuration to the closed configuration. Movement ofgripping lever 26 distally (e.g., release of gripping lever 26) causesthe relative movement of inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 to transitiongripping assembly 18 from the closed configuration to the openconfiguration.

Knife trigger 28 is a knife blade actuator that is movable between aretracted configuration position (illustrated in FIG. 1A) and a deployed(or extended) configuration position in which knife trigger 28 is movedproximally toward handle 24 to deploy knife blade 40. Movement of knifetrigger 28 proximally toward handle 24 to the deployed configurationposition causes translation of blade support 38 distally in longitudinaldirection 46 relative to both inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 to thedeployed position in which knife blade 40 extends outside both innershaft 34 and outer shaft 36 within gripping assembly 18. Movement ofknife trigger 28 distally (e.g., release of knife trigger 28) causestranslation of blade support 38 proximally in longitudinal direction 46to the retracted position in which knife blade 40 is positioned withininner shaft 34. One example of a hand piece utilizing a gripping lever,knife trigger, rotation wheel, and therapy actuation button can be foundin U.S. Pat. No. 9,681,883, entitled “FORCEPS WITH A ROTATION ASSEMBLY”and issued on Jun. 20, 2017 to Windgassen et al., the contents of whichare hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

According to techniques described herein, knife blade lockout mechanism20 coordinates movement of a pin through a series of slots formed ininner shaft 34, outer shaft 36, and blade support 38 to prevent distaltranslation of blade support 38 and knife blade 40 to the deployedposition until gripping assembly 18 is in the closed configuration. Asis further described below, blade support 38 includes a blade supportslot having a locking portion and a guide track portion. Blade support38 and knife blade 40 are distally translatable relative to inner shaft34 and outer shaft 36 to the deployed position when the pin extendsthrough the guide track portion of the blade support slot. Distaltranslation of blade support 38 relative to inner shaft 34 and outershaft 36 is inhibited when the pin extends through the locking portionof the blade support slot. Cam slots and guide slots formed in innershaft 34 and outer shaft 36 coordinate movement of the pin from thelocking portion of the blade support slot when gripping assembly 18 isnot in the closed configuration to the guide track portion of the bladesupport slot when gripping assembly 18 is in the closed configuration.Accordingly, knife blade lockout mechanism prevents deployment of knifeblade 40 when gripping assembly 18 is not in the closed configuration.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of knife blade lockout mechanism 20 withinner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 shown as transparent. As illustratedin FIG. 2, knife blade lockout mechanism 20 includes pin 48, bladesupport slot 50 formed in blade support 38, cam slots 52A and 52B formedin inner shaft 34, and guide slots 54A and 54B formed in outer shaft 36.Blade support slot 50 includes locking portion 56 and guide trackportion 58. Locking portion 56 defines engagement shoulder 60.

Though illustrated and described herein as having cam slots 52A-52Bformed in inner shaft 34 and guide slots 54A-54B formed in outer shaft36, it should be understood that in other examples, cam slots 52A-52Bcan be formed in outer shaft 36 and guide slots 54A-54B can be formed ininner shaft 34. Similarly, though illustrated and described herein ashaving a pair of cam slots 52A-52B and a pair of guide slots 54A-54B, inother examples, any one or more of inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 caninclude a single cam slot and a single guide slot. For instance, in someexamples, inner shaft 34 can include a single cam slot and outer shaft36 can include a single guide slot. In other examples, inner shaft 34can include a pair of cam slots (e.g., cam slots 52A-52B) and outershaft 36 can include a single guide slot (e.g., one of guide slots 54Aand 54B). In yet other examples, inner shaft 34 can include a single camslot (e.g., one of cam slots 52A and 52B) and outer shaft 36 can includea pair of guide slots (e.g., guide slots 54A-54B).

Pin 48 is a pin, shaft, rod, rivet, or other elongated member capable ofextending through each of guide slots 54A and 54B, cam slots 52A and52B, and blade support slot 50. Pin 48 is substantially rigid to preventdistal translation of blade support 38 when pin 48 is located in lockingportion 56 of blade support slot 50, as is further described below.

Cam slots 52A and 52B are partial circumferential slots formed in innershaft 34. Guide slots 54A and 54B are partial circumferential slotsformed in outer shaft 36. Cam slot 52A, as illustrated in FIG. 2, islocated opposite cam slot 52B relative to a central axis or plane ofinner shaft 34. Guide slot 54A is located opposite guide slot 54Brelative to a central axis or plane of outer shaft 36.

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of knife blade lockout mechanism 20 withinner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 shown as transparent. As illustratedin FIG. 3, when assembled, blade support 38 is disposed within innershaft 34, and inner shaft 34 is disposed axially within outer shaft 36.Blade support slot 50, cam slots 52A and 52B, and guide slots 54A and54B are aligned such that pin 48 extends through each of blade supportslot 50, cam slots 52A and 52B, and guide slots 54A and 54B.

In the example of FIG. 3, pin 48 is located within locking portion 56 ofblade support slot 50. That is, the example of FIG. 3 illustrates anassembled state of blade lockout mechanism 20 corresponding to an openconfiguration of gripping assembly 18 (FIG. 1A). As illustrated, whenpin 48 is located in locking portion 56 of blade support slot 50,translation of blade support 38 in distal direction D relative to innershaft 34 and outer shaft 36 to the extended position is prevented byengagement of pin 48 and engagement shoulder 60. That is, when pin 48 islocated in locking portion 56, engagement shoulder 60 contacts pin 48 toprevent translation of blade support 38 in distal direction D relativeto inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36.

As is further described below, during relative movement of inner shaft34 and outer shaft 36 to move gripping assembly 18 (FIG. 1A) to theclosed configuration, cam slots 52A-52B and guide slots 54A-54Bcoordinate movement of pin 48 from locking portion 56 when grippingassembly 18 is not in the closed configuration (e.g., in the openconfiguration and during transition to the closed configuration) toguide track portion 58 when gripping assembly 18 is in the closedconfiguration. Blade support 38 is translatable in distal direction Drelative to inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 when pin 48 is located inguide track portion 58. That is, blade support 38 is translatablerelative to inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 in distal direction D tothe deployed position and in proximal direction P from the deployedposition to the retracted position when pin 48 is located in guide trackportion 58. Blade support 38 is not translatable relative to inner shaft38 in distal direction D (or, in the example of FIG. 3, in proximaldirection P) when pin 48 is located in locking portion 56.

Accordingly, locking mechanism 20 inhibits translation of blade support38 in distal direction D relative to inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36when gripping assembly 18 is not in the closed configuration, therebypreventing translation of knife blade 40 (FIG. 1A) to the deployedposition until gripping assembly 18 is in the closed configuration.

FIG. 4 is a side view of locking mechanism 20 showing inner shaft 34 andouter shaft 36 as transparent. The example of FIG. 4 illustrates anassembled state of locking mechanism 20 corresponding to an openconfiguration of gripping assembly 18 (FIG. 1A) in which pin 48 islocated in locking portion 56 of blade support slot 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, locking portion 56 of blade support slot 50extends in transverse direction 62 that is perpendicular to longitudinaldirection 46, though transverse direction 62 need not be perpendicularto longitudinal direction 46 in all examples. Guide track portion 58 ofblade support slot 50 extends in longitudinal direction 46. Lockingportion 56 defines engagement shoulder 60 that extends in transversedirection 62.

In the example of FIG. 4, inner shaft 34 is movable in distal directionD relative to outer shaft 36 to transition gripping assembly 18 from theopen configuration to the closed configuration. That is, in the exampleof FIG. 4, outer shaft 36 is configured as a stationary (or ground)member, and inner shaft 34 is configured to move relative to outer shaft36 to cause gripping assembly 18 to transition between the openconfiguration and the closed configuration. In other examples, innershaft 34 can be configured as a stationary (or ground) member with outershaft 36 being configured to move relative to inner shaft 36 to causegripping assembly 18 to transition between the open configuration andthe closed configuration. In yet other examples, inner shaft 34 andouter shaft 36 can each be movable (e.g., relative to each other) tocause the transition of gripping assembly 18 between the openconfiguration and the closed configuration. Similarly, while the exampleof FIG. 4 utilizes distal movement of inner shaft 34 relative to outershaft 36, in other examples, either of inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36can be movable in proximal direction P to cause gripping assembly 18 totransition between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

In the example of FIG. 4, translation of blade support 38 in distaldirection D relative to inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 to thedeployed position is prevented when pin 48 is located within lockingportion 56 of blade support slot 50. That is, physical contact betweenpin 48 and engagement shoulder 60 prevents movement of blade support 38in distal direction D relative to inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 tothe deployed position when pin 48 is located in locking portion 56.Blade support 38 and knife blade 40 (FIG. 1A) are translatable in distaldirection D relative to inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 from theretracted position (illustrated in FIG. 4) to the deployed position, andin proximal direction P from the deployed position to the retractedposition, when pin 48 is located in guide track portion 58 of bladesupport slot 50.

Cam slots 52A and 52B (cam slot 52B illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3) andguide slots 54A and 54B (guide slot 54B illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3)are configured to cause movement of pin 48 within blade support slot 50from locking portion 56 to guide track portion 58 as inner shaft 34 istranslated in distal direction D to cause gripping assembly 18 totransition from the open configuration to the closed configuration.Guide slots 54A and 54B, as illustrated in FIG. 4, extend in transversedirection 62. Cam slots 52A and 52B extend from first position 64 tosecond position 66, and are angled with respect to both longitudinaldirection 46 and transverse direction 62.

As is further described below, as inner shaft 34 is translated in distaldirection D (to cause gripping assembly 18 to move to the closedconfiguration), cam slots 52A and 52B force pin 48 to travel withinguide slots 54A and 54B and locking portion 56 in transverse direction62. Cam slots 52A and 52B are angled to cause pin 48 to be locatedwithin locking portion 56 of blade support slot 50 until grippingassembly 18 is in the closed configuration. For example, distance X_(L)as measured between first position 64 and second position 66 inlongitudinal direction 46 can correspond to a distance of relativemovement between inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 in longitudinaldirection 46 to cause gripping assembly 18 to transition between theopen configuration and the closed configuration. Distance X_(L) can beany distance that is greater than or equal to a distance of relativemovement between inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 in longitudinaldirection 46 to cause gripping assembly 18 to transition between theopen configuration and the closed configuration. That is, distance X_(L)is any distance that enables relative movement of inner shaft 34 andouter shaft 36 that is sufficient to transition gripping assembly 18between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

Distance Y_(T) as measured between first position 64 and second position66 in transverse direction 62 can be any distance that is greater thanor equal to height H of engagement shoulder 60. For example, distanceY_(T) can be any distance that causes movement of pin 48 from lockingportion 56 in which pin 48 contacts engagement shoulder 60 to guidetrack portion 58 in which pin 48 does not contact engagement shoulder60. Accordingly, an angle of cam slots 52A and 52B with respect tolongitudinal direction 46 and transverse direction 62 can be defined bydistances X_(L) and Y_(T), such that translation of inner shaft 34 indistal direction D causes pin 48 to travel within cam slots 52A and 52Bfrom locking portion 56 of blade support slot 50 when gripping assembly18 is not in the closed configuration to guide track portion 58 of bladesupport slot 50 when gripping assembly 18 is in the closedconfiguration.

While the example of FIG. 4 is described above with respect tosubstantially straight cam slots 52A and 52B, guide slots 54A and 54B,locking portion 56, and guide track portion 58, it should be understoodthat aspects of this disclosure are not so limited. For instance, insome examples, cam slots 52A and 52B, guide slots 54A and 54B, lockingportion 56, and/or guide track portion 58 can be curvilinear having oneor more bends, arcs, and/or angles. Similarly, though locking portion 56and guide track portion 58 are illustrated in FIG. 4 as substantiallyperpendicular, in other examples, locking portion 56 can be formed at anacute or obtuse angle to guide track portion 58. In general, cam slots52A and 52B, guide slots 54A and 54B, locking portion 56, and guidetrack portion 58 are linear and/or curvilinear slots configured tocoordinate movement of pin 48 from locking portion 56 when grippingassembly 18 is not in the closed configuration to guide track portion 58when gripping assembly 18 is in the closed configuration.

FIGS. 5A-5D are schematic diagrams illustrating the coordinated movementof pin 48 from locking portion 56 to guide track portion 58 as grippingassembly 18 is transitioned from an open configuration to a closedconfiguration. FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram illustrating grippingassembly 18, knife blade lockout mechanism 20, and hand piece 12 whengripping assembly 18 is in an open configuration and knife blade 40 isin a retracted position.

As illustrated in FIG. 5A, gripping lever 26 and knife trigger 28 areeach extended distally from handle 24, such that gripping lever 26 is inthe open configuration position and knife trigger 28 is in the retractedconfiguration position. Gripping assembly 18 is in the openconfiguration, such that first jaw member 42 and second jaw member 44are spaced apart (or open). Knife blade 40 is in the retracted position,such that knife blade 40 does not extend within first jaw member 42 andsecond jaw member 44 of gripping assembly 18.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 5A, pin 48 extends through each ofcam slots 52A and 52B (cam slot 52B illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3), guideslots 54A and 54B (guide slot 54B illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3), andlocking portion 56 of blade support slot 50. Engagement shoulder 60, inthis example, prevents translation of knife blade 40 via blade support38 (FIGS. 1-4) in distal direction D relative to inner shaft 34 (FIGS.1-4) and outer shaft 36 (FIGS. 1-4).

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram illustrating gripping assembly 18, knifeblade lockout mechanism 20, and hand piece 12 when gripping assembly 18is in an open configuration and partially transitioned to the closedconfiguration. In the example of FIG. 5B, gripping lever 26 is movedproximally toward handle 24. Proximal movement of gripping lever 26toward handle 24 produces relative movement of inner shaft 34 and outershaft 36 to cause gripping assembly 18 to transition from the openconfiguration to the closed configuration, such that first jaw member 42and second jaw member 44 move toward each other to reduce the gapbetween first jaw member 42 and second jaw member 44. In the example ofFIG. 5B, first jaw member 42 and second jaw member 44 have moved towardeach other in transition between the open configuration and the closedconfiguration, but have not yet reached the closed configuration. Knifetrigger 28, in this example, is in the retracted configuration position.Accordingly, knife blade 40 is in the retracted position, such thatknife blade 40 does not extend within first jaw member 42 and second jawmember 44 of gripping assembly 18.

As illustrated in FIG. 5B, translation of cam slots 52A-52B in distaldirection D relative to guide slots 54A-54B and blade support slot 50drives pin 48 within guide slots 54A-54B and blade support slot 50toward guide track portion 58. In this example, gripping assembly 18 isnot in the closed configuration, and pin 48 is located within lockingportion 56 of blade support slot 50. As such, engagement shoulder 60prevents translation of knife blade 40 via blade support 38 in distaldirection D relative to inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36.

FIG. 5C is a schematic diagram illustrating gripping assembly 18, knifeblade lockout mechanism 20, and hand piece 12 when gripping assembly 18is in a closed configuration and knife blade 40 is in the retractedposition. In the example of FIG. 5C, gripping lever 26 is movedproximally toward handle 24 to the closed configuration position.Proximal movement of gripping lever 26 toward handle 24 producesrelative movement of inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 to cause grippingassembly 18 to transition from the open configuration towards the closedconfiguration, such that first jaw member 42 and second jaw member 44move toward each other to reduce or eliminate the gap between first jawmember 42 and second jaw member 44. Knife trigger 28, in this example,is in the retracted configuration position. Accordingly, knife blade 40is in the retracted position, such that knife blade 40 does not extendwithin first jaw member 42 and second jaw member 44 of gripping assembly18.

In the example of FIG. 5C, translation of cam slots 52A-52B in distaldirection D relative to guide slots 54A-54B and blade support slot 50drives pin 48 within guide slots 54A-54B and blade support slot 50 toguide track portion 58. That is, in the example of FIG. 5C, pin 48 islocated in guide track portion 58 of blade support slot 50. As such,engagement shoulder 60 no longer prevents translation of knife blade 40via blade support 38 in distal direction D relative to inner shaft 34and outer shaft 36. Blade support 38 is therefore movable by actuationof knife trigger 28 to translate distally relative to inner shaft 34 andouter shaft 36 to the deployed position.

FIG. 5D is a schematic diagram illustrating gripping assembly 18, knifeblade lockout mechanism 20, and hand piece 12 when gripping assembly 18is in the closed configuration and knife blade 40 is in the deployedposition. In the example of FIG. 5D, gripping lever 26 is movedproximally toward handle 24 to the closed configuration position. Inaddition, knife trigger 28 is moved proximally toward handle 24 to thedeployed configuration position. Proximal movement of knife trigger 28produces movement of blade support 38 relative to both inner shaft 34and outer shaft 36 in distal direction D to the deployed position.Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 5D, knife blade 40 is translated indistal direction D within first jaw member 42 and second jaw member 44of gripping assembly 18 to the deployed position to cut or dissecttissue or other anatomy held between first jaw member 42 and second jawmember 44.

In operation, distal movement (e.g., release) of knife trigger 28 anddistal movement (e.g., release) of gripping lever 26 reverse theoperations of FIGS. 5A-5D to transition gripping assembly 18 to the openconfiguration and move pin 48 from guide track portion 58 to lockingportion 56. That is, distal movement of knife trigger 28 to theretracted configuration position produces reversed movement of bladesupport 38 (i.e., in a proximal direction opposite distal direction D)relative to both inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 to the retractedconfiguration position. Distal movement of gripping lever 26 producesreversed relative motion of inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 totransition gripping assembly 18 to the open configuration and move pin48 from guide track portion 58 to locking portion 56.

Accordingly, knife blade lockout mechanism 20 prevents deployment ofknife blade 40 to an extended position when first jaw member 42 andsecond jaw member 44 of gripping assembly 18 are not in a closedconfiguration. Coordinated movement of pin 48 through cam slots 52A-52B,guide slots 54A-54B, and blade support slot 50 as the relative movementof inner shaft 34 and outer shaft 36 causes gripping assembly 18 totransition between the open configuration and the closed configurationprevents distal translation of knife blade 40 to the deployed positionuntil gripping assembly 18 is in the closed configuration.

Discussion of Possible Embodiments

The following are non-exclusive descriptions of possible embodiments ofthe present invention.

A forceps includes jaws that open and close, a first shaft, a secondshaft, a rod, a pin, a first actuator, and a second actuator. The firstshaft has a first slot. The second shaft extends along the first shaftand has a second slot. The first slot and the second slot are angledwith respect to each other. The rod extends along the second shaft andhas a third slot including a locking portion and a guide track portion.The pin extends through the first slot, the second slot, and the thirdslot to prevent deployment of the rod when the pin is located in thelocking portion of the third slot and to permit deployment of the rodwhen the pin is located in the guide track portion of the third slot.The first actuator produces relative movement of the first shaft and thesecond shaft to move the jaws relative to each other and move the pinwithin the first slot and the second slot from the locking portion tothe guide track portion of the third slot. The second actuator producesmovement of the rod to deploy the rod when the pin is located in theguide track portion.

The forceps of the preceding paragraph can optionally include,additionally and/or alternatively, any one or more of the followingfeatures, configurations, operations, and/or additional components:

The first shaft can be a tubular outer shaft.

The second shaft can be a tubular inner shaft extending within thetubular outer shaft.

The rod can be a blade support that extends within the inner shaft.

A knife blade can be connected to a distal end of the rod.

The knife blade can be positioned to extend outside each of the firstshaft and the second shaft when the rod is deployed.

The knife blade can be configured to extend within the jaws when thejaws are closed and the rod is deployed.

The first actuator can produce the relative movement of the first shaftand the second shaft to move the pin within the first slot and thesecond slot from the locking portion to the guide track portion of thethird slot as the jaws move toward a closed configuration.

The first actuator can be a gripping actuator.

The first actuator can produce the relative movement of the first shaftand the second shaft to move the pin from the locking portion to theguide track portion of the third slot as the jaws move toward the closedconfigured when the first actuator is moved in a first direction. Thefirst actuator can reverse the relative movement of the first shaft andthe second shaft to move the pin from the guide track portion to thelocking portion of the third slot when the first actuator is moved in asecond direction.

The first direction can be a proximal direction. The second directioncan be a distal direction.

The second actuator can be a knife blade actuator.

The second actuator can produce the movement of the rod to deploy therod when the pin is located in the guide track portion of the third slotand the second actuator is moved in a first direction. The secondactuator can reverse the movement of the rod to retract the rod when thepin is located in the guide track portion of the third slot and thesecond actuator is moved in a second direction.

The first direction can be a proximal direction. The second directioncan be a distal direction.

The first shaft can include a fourth slot opposite the first slot. Thesecond shaft can include a fifth slot opposite the second slot. The pincan extend through the first slot, the second slot, the third slot, thefourth slot, and the fifth slot. The first actuator can produce therelative movement of the first shaft and the second shaft to move thejaws relative to each other and move the pin within the first slot, thesecond slot, the fourth slot, and the fifth slot between the lockingportion and the guide track portion of the third slot.

The guide track portion of the third slot can extend in a longitudinaldirection. The locking portion of the third slot can extend in atransverse direction.

The longitudinal direction and the transverse direction can beperpendicular.

The first slot can be a guide slot. The second slot can be a cam slot.

Each of the guide slot and the cam slot can be substantially straight.

The guide slot can extend in the transverse direction.

The cam slot can be angled with respect to each of the longitudinaldirection and the transverse direction.

The second slot can extend from a first position to a second position. Adistance between the first position and the second position in thelongitudinal direction can be greater than or equal to a distance ofrelative movement of the first shaft and the second shaft in thelongitudinal direction to open and close the jaws.

A length of the guide track portion of the third slot in thelongitudinal direction can be greater than or equal to a distance ofmovement of the rod in the longitudinal direction to deploy the rod.

The locking portion of the third slot can define an engagement shoulderthat contacts the pin when the pin is located in the locking portion ofthe third slot to prevent deployment of the rod.

A method includes producing relative movement of a first shaft and asecond shaft to move jaws of a forceps towards a closed configuration.The method further includes moving, during the relative movement of thefirst shaft and the second shaft, a pin that extends through a firstslot in the inner shaft, a second slot in the outer shaft, and a thirdslot of a rod from a locking portion of the third slot to a guide trackportion of the third slot. The method further includes producingmovement of the rod relative to the first shaft and the second shaft todeploy the rod when the pin is located in the guide track portion of thethird slot.

The method of the preceding paragraph can optionally include,additionally and/or alternatively, any one or more of the followingfeatures, configurations, operations, and/or additional components:

The first shaft can be a tubular outer shaft.

The second shaft can be a tubular inner shaft extending within thetubular outer shaft.

The rod can be a blade support extending within the tubular inner shaft.

Producing the movement of the rod relative to the first shaft and thesecond shaft to deploy the rod can include producing the movement of therod relative to the first shaft and the second shaft to deploy a knifeblade connected to a distal end of the rod.

Producing the movement of the rod relative to the first shaft and thesecond shaft to deploy the knife blade can include producing themovement of the rod relative to the first shaft and the second shaft todeploy the knife blade outside each of the first shaft and the secondshaft.

Producing the movement of the rod relative to the first shaft and thesecond shaft to deploy the knife blade outside each of the first shaftand the second shaft can include producing the movement of the rodrelative to the first shaft and the second shaft to deploy the knifeblade outside each of the first shaft and the second shaft and to extendwithin the jaws.

Moving, during the relative movement of the first shaft and the secondshaft, the pin that extends through the first slot in the first shaft,the second slot in the second shaft, and the third slot of a rod fromthe locking portion of the third slot to the guide track portion of thethird slot can include moving, during the relative movement of the firstshaft and the second shaft, the pin that extends through the first slotin the first shaft, the second slot in the second shaft, the third slotof the rod, a fourth slot in the first shaft opposite the first slot,and a fifth slot in the second shaft opposite the second slot.

The third slot can prevent deployment of the rod when the pin is in thelocking portion of the third slot.

The method can further include reversing the movement of the rodrelative to the first shaft and the second shaft to retract the rod whenthe pin is located in the guide track portion of the third slot.

The method can further include moving, while reversing the relativemovement of the first shaft and the second shaft, the pin from the guidetrack portion of the third slot to the locking portion of the thirdslot.

Producing the relative movement of the first shaft and the second shaftto move the jaws of the forceps toward the closed configuration caninclude producing the relative movement of the first shaft and thesecond shaft in a longitudinal direction. Moving the pin from thelocking portion of the third slot to the guide track portion of thethird slot can include moving the pin in a direction that is transverseto the longitudinal direction.

The direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction can beperpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Producing the movement of the rod relative to the first shaft and thesecond shaft to deploy the rod can include producing the movement of therod relative to the first shaft and the second shaft in the longitudinaldirection.

A forceps includes a shaft assembly, a gripping assembly, a knife bladeassembly, a knife blade lockout mechanism, a gripping actuator, and aknife blade actuator. The shaft assembly has a first shaft and a secondshaft. The gripping assembly is operably coupled to a distal end of theshaft assembly and includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member.The knife blade assembly includes a blade support and a knife blade. Theblade support extends longitudinally within the shaft assembly. Theknife blade is connected to a distal end of the blade support. The knifeblade lockout mechanism includes guide slots, cam slots, a blade supportslot, and a pin. The guide slots are formed in the first shaft. The camslots are formed in the second shaft. The blade support slot is formedin the blade support. The blade support slot has a locking portion and aguide track portion. The pin extends through the guide slots, the camslots, and the blade support slot to prevent distal translation of theblade support and the knife blade when the pin is located in the lockingportion and to allow distal translation of the blade support and theknife blade when the pin is located in the guide track portion. Thegripping actuator is operably connected to the shaft assembly to producerelative movement of the first shaft and the second shaft that causes atleast one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member totransition from an open configuration to a closed configuration andcauses the guide slots and the cam slots to move the pin from thelocking portion to the guide track portion of the blade support slot.The knife blade actuator is operably connected to the knife bladeassembly to produce distal translation of the blade support relative tothe first shaft and the second shaft to extend the knife blade when thepin is located in the guide track portion of the blade support slot.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplaryembodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but that theinvention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of theappended claims.

1. A forceps comprising: jaws that open and close; a first shaft havinga first slot; a second shaft extending along the first shaft, the secondshaft having a second slot, wherein the first slot and the second slotare angled with respect to each other; a rod that extends along thesecond shaft, the rod having a third slot including a locking portionand a guide track portion; a pin that extends through the first slot,the second slot, and the third slot to prevent deployment of the rodwhen the pin is located in the locking portion of the third slot and topermit deployment of the rod when the pin is located in the guide trackportion of the third slot; a first actuator that produces relativemovement of the first shaft and the second shaft to move the jawsrelative to each other and move the pin within the first slot and thesecond slot between the locking portion and the guide track portion ofthe third slot; and a second actuator that produces movement of the rodto deploy the rod when the pin is located in the guide track portion.